Vacuum cleaner



Gt. 19, 1943. P. J. KlRcl-IER vAcuml CLEANER Filed Ilarch 20, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 o Y PAUL fC/HOHER v Ghia/muuu oct. 19, 1943. P. J, mem-:n

VACUUM CLEANER med umh zo, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i). Dnuoiinm, con uvm t ctwmit.

Patented Oct. 19, 1943 VACUUM CLEANER Paul J. Kircher, Plainvllle, Conn., assignor to Landers, Frary & Clark,`New Britain, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application March 20, 1942, Serial No. 435,468

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to suction cleaners and more particularly to that type of suction cleaner wherein a sweeper nozzle is remote from and connected by a long flexible hose to the vacuum producing and dust collecting unit.

Although cleaners of the above-indicated type have been successfully used as auxiliary cleaners, they have not been considered satisfactory as carpet or rug cleaners in that they fail to dislodge the dirt which is embedded within the carpet beneath the pile.

An object of the present invention is to provide a suction cleaner of the above-indicated type which can be successfully used as a carpet or rug cleaner; this being accomplished by providing within the air stream entering the sweeper nozzle a rotating brush which, as the nozzle is moved over the floor, is adapted to separate the pile or nap of the rug and thereby permit a greater air flow through the rug base, resulting in a dislodgement of the dirt embedded within the base of the rug.

Another object is to provide in a cleaner of the above-indicated type a nozzle having a rotating brush which is driven by frictional means and whereby the relative spacing between the nozzle inlet and surface of the rug being cleaned may be adjusted, thereby maintaining the brush fully effective when the nozzle is close to the fabric, as is required for high vacuum cleaning, and likewise maintaining the brush effective on all strokes of the cleaner.

A still further object is to provide an improved sweeper nozzle for vacuum cleaners of the aboveindicated type of extremely simple construction wherein the parts are so made as to permit ready assembly thereof and ready replacement of the brush.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out more in detail hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplied in the construction hereafter set forth and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a view of the vacuum cleaner embodying the invention herein showing the parts in operative position;

Fig. 2 is a plan view partly in section of the sweeper nozzle shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an end view of the nozzle with parts broken away to more clearly show the details of construction;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a view of the bottom of the nozzle; and

Fig. 6 is a detailview showing the improved means for mounting the nozzle outlet.

Referring to the drawings, the invention comprises generally a mobile vacuum producing and dust collecting unit I0 having a' casing I2 provided at one end with a removable cover i4. Located within the casing is a dust collecting bag I8 and vacuum producing unit 20 comprising a motor and fan (not shown) adapted upon operation to set up a flow of air which is ejected through an outlet 22 provided in the rear of the casing, thus causing a vacuum or infiow of air through an inlet I6 provided in the removable cover member i4. The casing I0 is supported on a pair of runners 24, one of which is shown, or any other suitable device whereby the casing may be readily moved over the surface upon which the unit rests. As an understanding of the specific details of construction of the unit lll is not essential to an understanding of the invention herein, no further description will be given. Such description can, however, be found in Patent No. 2,245,953, issued June 1'7, 1941, Oscar M. Anderson et a1.

Connected to the inlet I6 is a flexible hose 26, which hose is of considerable length and4 is provided on its outer end with a rigid metal tube 28 which functions as a handle and guiding member for a removable sweeper nozzle 30. In accordance with the present invention, the sweeper nozzle 30 is provided with a rotating brush 32 located in the path of the air stream passing through the nozzle and rotatably driven by friction means 34 adapted to rotate upon movement of the nozzle over the surface being cleaned.

More specifically, the nozzle 30 comprises a body member including a transverse tubular member 36 of cylindrical cross section provided with a transversely extending bottom slot 38 to permit the inflow of dirt laden air and a circumferentially extending top slot 40 for permitting the outflow of air. Mounted on the tube 36 in alignment with the outlet slot 40 is an outlet tube 42 having an enlarged upper end 44 to permit its being slipped onto and connected with the lower end of the tubular member 28, thereby remotely connecting nozzle 30 to the unit I0. The tube 42 is so connected to the tube 36 as to permit angular adjustment thereof circumferentially of the tube; this being accomplished by securing the lower end of the tube 42 to a plate 46 which has a curvature corresponding to the tubular member 36. The plate 46 is held in contacting sliding relationship with the member 36 by positioning the side edges thereof beneath transversely spaced, circumferentially extending side members 48 secured to the tubular member 46 (see Fig. 6) whereby the tubular member may be angularly adjusted relative to the nozzle. Also as best seen in Fig. 6, the lower end of the outlet tube 42 extends into the nozzle through the outlet slot 46, and thus the tube will be operatively connected to the nozzle in any angular position thereof.

To complete the body member, the opposite ends of the tubular member 36 are closed by removable closure members 56 each comprising a substantially rectangular outer plate provided with an inwardly extending circular insert 54 adapted to telescope into and engage the adjacent end of the tube 36; the closure being removably held in position as by screws 55. Each member 56 is further provided with a bearing 54 for supporting a pintle 56, which pintle terminates at its inner end in a rectangular head 58 receivable within a corresponding recess 66 in the end of the brush axle 62, thus providing a rotatable support for the brush. When so supported, the brush is positioned axially of the tubular member 36 in alignment with the inlet slot 38, whereby the bristles 64 will extend outwardly through the inlet slot 38 and contact the surface upon which the nozzle rests below the edge of the nozzle. To loosen any threads or the like from the bristles, the opposing edges of the slot may be provided with a comb 66, which, in the embodiment shown. comprises a plurality of teeth 11 stamped out from the edges of the inlet slot 38 and so disposed as to contact the bristles as the brush is rotated.

To support the nozzle for movement across a surface to be cleaned and simultaneously rotate the brush, the body member is carried by supporting means including a supporting plate 12 slidably mounted on each of the end closures 56. To accomplish this, the inner face of each supporting plate is provided with guides 14 adapted to telescope over the side edges of the closures 56. As best seen in Fig. 3, each supporting plate 12 is also provided with a centrally arranged, U-shaped slot 16 which straddles the closure plate bearing 54, and the bearing is normally maintained in engagement with the top of the slot by suitable resilient means. In the embodiment illustrated, the spring means comprises a circular spring 18 having its ends secured in a tongue 86 struck from the top edge of the plate 12; the spring then being looped over a stud 82 extending laterally from the closure 56 adjacent the lower edge thereof. In this manner, it will be seen that the body member and brush are normally kept in uppermost position, but may be forcibly lowered relative to the supporting plate 12.

To maintain the plate 12 at a desired position from the surface to be cleaned, as well as to drive the brush 32, there is mounted on each plate a` pair of drive wheels 16, each wheel of the pairbeing disposed to one side of a drive member 1I mounted on the outer end of the pintle 56, whereby when the wheels engage the drive member, the brush will be rotated. To obtain engagement between the wheels and the drive member, each wheel is provided with an axle 84 secured centrally of an arm 86. Each arm 86 is pivotally secured adjacent respectively opposite upper corners of the plate 12; the arms then extending downwardly and inwardly towards the nozzle. In order to limit the pivotal movement of the arms 86, the lower ends thereof are provided with stops 88 adapted to straddle an intermediate stop 96 bent out from the plate 12.

With the foregoing construction it will be seen that when the vacuum creating unit I6 is placed in operation a suction will be created, causing dirt laden air to enter the nozzle slot 36, pass through the flexible connecting tube 26 and into the dust collector I8. The air will then pass through the interstices of the collector I8 and the dust will be retained therein. As the nozzle 36 is moved over the carpet, the wheels 16 will be rotated to cause a slow rotation of the brush 32, which rotation will pick up any surface lint or the like, but primarily will open the pile of the carpet, thus permitting a greater air flow through the fabric. As the brush 32 is located directly in the stream of incoming air, it will function to open the fabric directly in the path of the stream of air approaching the nozzle, thus subjecting the carpet to the most effective cleaning action.

If it is desired to space the nozzle slot 36 closer to the floor, this is accomplished by pushing downwardly on the handle or tubular member 28 of the flexible tube 26. When this is done, the tubular member 36 and the brush will be simultaneously lowered relative to the supporting plates and drive wheels 16. Inasmuch as the brush moves slrnultaneouslywith the tubular menager 36 of' 4the nozzle, the brush will remain fully effective when the nozzle is close to the fabric, and, likewise, the brush will be rotated regardless of the direction in which the nozzle is moved.

I claim as my invention:

l. A nozzle for vacuum cleaners, comprising a body member including a tubular member provided with a transverse inlet slot, a closure member for each end of said tubular member, each closure member being provided with a central bearing, a brush rotatably supported in said bearing, and means for supporting said tubular member and comprising a plate mounted for vertical sliding movement on each of said closure members, spring means connecting said tubular member and said plate member and normally resisting vertical movement thereof, a pair of wheel supporting arms mounted on each of said plates, said arms having their upper ends pivotally mounted adjacent a corner of the plate and said arms extending downwardly and inwardly from said pivots, stop means for limiting the pivotal movement of said arms, a wheel rotatably mounted on each of said arms, and a driving connection between the wheels on each plate and said brush for rotating said brush upon rotation of the wheels.

2. In combination, a nozzle for oor cleaners comprising a tubular body member with a transverse slot, a closure member for each end of said tubular member and each including a sleeve portion fitting within the tubular member and an end portion having vertical edges and a centrally disposed bearing, pintles rotatably supported in said bearings and each having a pulley secured on its outer end, a brush within said tubular member and carried by said pintles for rotation therewith, a plate abutting the outer y 2,332,234 face of each of said closure member and having of said arms, the pair of wheels on each plate being in straddling relation to and having their peripheries engaging the respective pulleys interposed therebetween whereby said brush is rotated upon rotation of said wheels.

PAUL J. mRCHER.

'3, ends and extending downwardly land inwardly from said pivots, and a wheel mounted on each 

